<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=799173596894770&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Property Claims BLOG

All Posts

8 Things to Consider When Filing Your Commercial Fire Damage Insurance Claim

Commerical Fire Damage Insurance Claim

If you’ve just had fire damage to your commercial property, you’re probably already filed a claim with your insurance company.  Before you get to far into the claim process, there are some important points to consider.

There’s a lot of “fine print” in the handling of these situations that some insurance companies won’t necessarily bring to your attention on their own. Having a solid understanding of the process, will help ensure you protect your own interests in the fire damage claim.

Below are 8 some important points to consider:

  1. Normally--for water damage--you send the insurance company documentation of the damages. But how do you do this for items or property that has been destroyed by fire damage? Are there good “before” pictures of the same space, on your phone or website, that you can compare with the “after” photos of the damage? Does your bank have record of the blueprint from when they helped you finance the property? Does your business account have record of furniture, equipment, etc that you purchased for the space? These would be good places to start-- but you’ll want to ask your adjuster/agent for more specific protocol and requirements.
  2. Is it a good idea to make repairs and restorations yourself? (Your insurance company will pay less, but your premium may not increase as much. Weigh the costs and benefits of each option)
  3. How did smoke--or water from fighting the fire--affect your electronics, equipment, and structural integrity; and how do you claim those damages to trigger better coverage?
  4. When making repairs--make sure your insurance company does not cut corners by using companies or contractors that repair/restore with materials containing lead and asbestos. That could lead to greater costs--and health risks--down the line.
  5. Find out how your policy addresses code coverage, and Green building upgrades.
  6. If your coverage is limited, what can you do about it? How can your agent or a public adjuster help?
  7. During the claims process, your insurance provider may engage a forensic accountant. Find out their role, which financial statements you are required to produce (and why). You should also ask if you can--and should--recast your financial statements. Don’t hesitate to get input from an accounting professional you trust, as well as your agent.
  8. Find out what can be included as extra--and expediting--expenses, and what the difference is.

Having commercial fire damage is stressful enough--you don’t want the claim and repair process to add to the frustration (and we don’t either)! Let us know what questions you have about your policy, the restoration process, and how to get the most trusted repairs the most efficiently. Our team of caring professionals is ready, willing, and able to help.

David Miller
David Miller
Thank you for visiting us. My name is David Miller, and I know what it means to have to fight with your insurance carrier just to get fair payment for your property damage claim. My family suffered a total loss house fire that took nearly two very stressful years to settle. Since, I combined my experience in construction with my expertise in contract language to create Miller Public Adjusters. We work exclusively for policyholders. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, and let us know how we can help.

Related Posts

When is The Right Time for the Appraisal Clause?

When is The Right Time for the Appraisal Clause?

The Hidden Damages of a Fire Loss

There’s more to fire damage than meets the eye. Fire can also cause hidden damages that can be hard to detect. The two main culprits: smoke/soot damage, and water damage. Knowing about these additional impacts on your property, and how to take care of them, helps ensure you’re reimbursed appropriately for your claim.

Building Code Compliance Adds Substantial Cost When Rebuilding After a House Fire: Who Pays the Bill?

Building codes are in a constant state of evolution. Advancements in engineering, technology, safety, building materials and methods, and changes in the physical environment all drive changes in building codes. If your fire-damaged home is 10 or more years old, complying with the current building codes may add substantial cost to your reconstruction. Will you be stuck with the bill?

IMG4-1